For over 165 years, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz has enjoyed an excellent reputation for Swiss hospitality.
Thanks to its founder, the hotelier Johannes Badrutt, St. Moritz and Kulm Hotel were already the best-known places in the Swiss Alps in the 19th century. A legendary bet led to events that made the Engadin the cradle of winter tourism.
Hotel-pioneer Johannes Badrutt launched winter tourism by placing a bet.
Winter Tourism – The Result of a Legendary Bet
In the autumn of 1864, the story goes, Johannes Badrutt sat by the fire in Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz with four English holiday guests. He enthused about the St. Moritz winter idyll – a snow-blanketed landscape basking in sunshine with mild temperatures during the day. “A paradise on earth.”
The Englishmen did not believe him since they knew the dark, cold English winters all too well. This conversation led to the legendary bet: Badrutt suggested that the four should return in December, and if they did not enjoy their stay, he would reimburse the travel expenses. The Englishmen returned – and stayed until Easter. Badrutt won his bet, and winter tourism was launched.
Birth of Modern Winter Sports
The news of winter holidays in the snow spread like wildfire, and more and more English people came to spend holidays in St. Moritz. In the 1890s various enterprising winter guests were keen to develop new sports using ice tracks – and so skibobbing, skeleton bobsled, and cresta emerged. Soon, competitions for all these sports were held in the vast Kulm Park. The Winter Olympic Games of 1928 and 1948 were opened here. True to tradition, Kulm Hotel is today still home to the historic St. Moritz Tobogganing Club and Cresta Club, and the hotel hosts the Olympia Bob Run St. Moritz-Celerina every year. True to form, Kulm Country Club was the setting both for the opening ceremony and the medal ceremonies at the 5th Alpine World Ski Championships in 2017.
The dining room of the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz the first room in Switzerland to be lit by electric light
Switzerland’s First Electric Light
A man keen on innovation, hotel founder Johannes Badrutt liked to surprise his guests. In 1879, Switzerland’s first electric light illuminated the Grand Restaurant at Kulm Hotel. Having seen the lighting at the world exhibition in Paris, Badrutt returned with ample impressions and built a small power plant at a cost of around 11,000 Swiss francs – a considerable sum at that time. The success of Badrutt’s bold endeavour led him to start various cultural entertainments in St. Moritz. Consequently, noblemen and personalities from the world of business, politics and culture came from all over Europe not only for the sporting activities but also to enjoy masquerade balls and the intriguing entertainment Laterna Magica.
Badrutt’s Pioneering Spirit Lives On
From the end of the 19th century until recently, Badrutt’s descendants have restored and expanded the Kulm Hotel. Today, this historic St. Moritz establishment is owned by a finance company, which continues to foster the heritage under the aegis of the Niarchos family. The family, with the help of directors Jenny and Heinz Hunkeler, are leading Kulm Hotel St. Moritz into the future with the care and commitment that the hotel’s founder Johannes Badrutt would expect.
1855 - In the year 1855 Johannes Badrutt and his wife rented Pension Faller - today's Kulm Hotel St. Moritz - with 12 rooms at CHF 200 per year. Later, in the year 1858 they bought the Pension for CHF 28,500. It is the first hotel in St. Moritz and the later birthplace of winter tourism. One year later, the hotel was extended by two floors. Battlements and towers gave the house a palace-like appearance. The hotel will be continuously expanded over the next few years.
The Legendary Bet
1864 - According to legend, Badrutt invited his regular British summer guests to experience the winter in St. Moritz. He suggested that should they do not like it, he would reimburse them their travel costs. The guests came for Christmas and stayed until Easter. On departure, everyone was tanned, healthy, and happy. Today's winter tourism was born.
Electric Light In the Grand Restaurant
1879 - The first electric light illuminated the Dining Room of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. In 1878, Badrutt and his son visited the world exhibition in Paris, where the first arc lamps were presented. Immediately after his return, he built a hydroelectric power plant to light the house for Christmas 1879.
St. Moritz Curling Club
1883 - The St. Moritz Curling Club was founded on the premises of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz.
Sunny Bar – The oldest sports bar in the Alps
1884/85 - Construction of the legendary Cresta Run on the premises of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz – a natural ice channel for skeleton. The oldest sports bar in the Alps, the Sunny Bar, opened its doors and is still home to the Cresta riders today.
Introduction Hotel Lobby
1886/87 - The west wing was built in collaboration with architect Nicolas Hartmann, and the concept of a hotel lobby was introduced, which cannot be omitted in any hotel. Toilets, hydraulic elevators, as well as heating and electric ventilation, were also installed.
Establishment of the St. Moritz Tobogganing Club
1887 - The St. Moritz Tobogganing Club, which was associated with the Cresta Run, was founded.
The hot wire
1889 - Johannes Badrutt's last pioneering act: The first public telephone network with 24 local connections in Switzerland was installed in Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. After the death of the hotel pioneer, his son Peter Robert Badrutt founded Badrutt & Cie, which was renamed to AG Grand Hotels Engadiner Kulm in 1905.
The highest golf course in the Alps
1894 / 1904 - In the year 1896, the hotel’s 9-hole Kulm Executive Golf Course was built - the highest golf course in the Alps. In the winter of 1903/04 the construction of the Olympic Bob Run begins, opening its doors in January 1904. The Olympic Bob Run is a natural ice channel and venue of World Cups and Olympic Games until today.
Opening of the East Wing
1912 - The east wing, known as Neukulm, was opened.
Olympic Games in the Kulm Park
1928 - The first Olympic Winter Games in St. Moritz. The opening ceremonies, as well as figure skating and ice hockey competitions, took place in the Kulm Park.
During the Second World war
1935 / 1956 - Anton Robert Badrutt took over the management of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz and re-opened the Neukulm during the Second World War.
Olympic Games in the Kulm Park
1948 - The second Olympic Winter Games in St. Moritz. The opening ceremonies and various sports events took place in the Kulm Park.
New hotel management
1956 - Albert Ernst-von-Pfyffer purchased Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, and Fred Herrling took over the management of the hotel until 1972. In 1968, another change of ownership took place: Stavros Niarchos bought Kulm Hotel St. Moritz when Club Mediterannée signalled purchase interest.
Expansion of the Kulm Hotel
1972 / 2002 - Heinz Hunkeler took over the management of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. He initiated the construction the Chesa Al Parc in 1986 with the sports field, consisting of 3 tennis courts and the ice rink in winter, as well as Residence I in 1988, consisting of 14 luxury apartments, conference rooms, and the parking garage.
The entrance receives a face lift
1993 - Renovation of the hotel entrance and lobby. Decoration in "Trompe l'oeil" style by Renzo Mongiardino. At the same time a new ski room and sport boutique are built.
New sparkle for Kulm Spa
1997 - with saunas, steam bath, brine grotto, whirlpool, fitness room, and treatment rooms, including renovation of the swimming pool.
New lustre for Kulm Golf
2000 - Redesign for the hotel's Kulm Executive Golf Course, 9-hole.
Renovations and extensions
2002 - 2013 In 2003, the construction of Residence II, with 21 luxury apartments begins and the Sunny Bar is redesigned and renovated. Furthermore, 26 rooms were remodelled in local Engadin style by 2005, and in 2009 the Kulm’s main kitchen was completely renovated. Furthermore, new windows and elevators were installed throughout the hotel. In 2012, the Kulm Spa was redesigned, renovated, and extended to 2'000 m
The Hunkelers take over
2013 - Heinz E. Hunkeler, son of Heinz Hunkeler and his wife Jenny Hunkeler took over the management of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. Soon thereafter they establish a new food concept, turning the restaurant „Rotisserie des Chevaliers” into the gourmet restaurant the K.
Renovation of the Neukulm building
2015 - In summer 2015, the hotel takes on the full refurbishment of the Neukulm building with 26 rooms and suites in cooperation with star architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, finished in December. The end-result is newly-created rooms providing a synergy of grand hotel style with modern Alpine living, incorporating a light blue palette, Swiss stone pine wood ceilings and floor to ceiling lacquered walls.
Hoteliers of the year
2016 - In May 2016, Jenny and Heinz E. Hunkeler receive the prestigious “Hoteliers of the Year 2016” Award by Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung in its annual Hotel Rating, the only honours sanctioned by Switzerland Tourism, the national tourist office.
Virtuous times
2017 - The preceding summer season sees the complete CHF 12 million refurbishment of the historic Kulm Country Club, dating back to 1905, to once again become a hotspot in St. Moritz as Restaurant and Bar starting from January, and with its new stage a public event location in the Engadin. In its first season, the restaurant operated on a pop-up concept with a rotating selection of internationally fa-mous chefs, such as Daniel Humm from New York’s Eleven Madison Square restaurant. In December, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz is accepted into Virtuoso®’s selective portfolio of luxury travel partners, comprised of more than 1,700 preferred suppliers in over 100 countries. A great accomplishment for the hotel, as it is the most significant player in luxury travel, with its agencies selling more than (U.S.) $21.2 billion annually.
A star and more new rooms
2019 - Tim Raue’s Swiss gourmet restaurant “the K by Tim Raue” is awarded a star by the Guide Michelin in January. The modern Asian compositions and the young, fresh and creative ideas behind the concept make dining in „the K“ a remarkable experience, leading to the award now accompanying the 17 GaultMillau points the restaurant held before. January 2019 also sees the completion of the largest room remodel in its long history - Kulm Hotel St. Moritz proudly announces 40 new rooms and suites that have been redesigned by acclaimed French architect and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. This time, colors are stronger resulting in a deeper blue and a Bordeaux red, giving the rooms a warm and comfortable feel.
